Blues Traveler

Guide Note: The Grammy Award winning band Blues Traveler formed in 1987. The members of the group met in high school and formed a garage band which was originally named The Establishment. They later changed their name to the Blues Band which then transformed into Blues Traveler before they released their first album.

The band's original members are John Popper, Chan Kinchla, Bobby Sheehan and Brendan Hill. The band contains all of its original members except for Bobby Sheehan, who died in 1999 from an accidental drug overdose. The group replaced the bassist spot with Chan Kinchla's brother, Tad Kinchla. He got the gig after performing an audition for the rest of the band members. Ben Wilson was a keyboardist who was added to the band after the death of Sheehan.

The group released a total of thirteen albums between 1990 and 2008. Three albums went platinum and three earned gold. Their debut self-titled album, Blues Traveler received gold status as well as their second album Travelers & Thieves and third album Save His Soul. Their fourth studio album, released in 1994 and titled Four, went six times multi-platinum and their hit single "Run-Around" earned a Grammy Award. They followed this with two more platinum albums, Live From the Fall and Straight On Till Morning.

Fast Facts:

1. Origin: Princeton, New Jersey
2. Years Active: 1987-Present
3. Record Label: C3 Records
4. Band Members: John Popper, Chan Kinchla, Tad Kinchla, Brendan Hill and Ben Wilson
5. Original band member Bobby Sheehan died in 1999 from an accidental drug overdose.
6. Formerly known as The Establishment and Blues Band
7. 1995 Won Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by Band or Duo with single "Run-Around"
8. John Popper has had two arrest for marijuana possession
9. Discography

Quotes:

1. "Aside from my incredible hoops game I've always loved to write." —Chan Kinchla, Washburn Guitar interview
2. "[I'm] a libertarian who is a Republican when pushed." —John Popper, St. Petersburg Times
3. "Well, I believe in freedom for markets and freedom for individuals, so I guess that makes me a libertarian." —John Popper, MTV Rock the Vote
4. "A Blues Traveler live show is where you'll see us jumping through hoops." —Brendan Hill, Modern Drummer Online
5. "Pretty much we have a policy, if somebody comes up with an idea all we got to do is try it." —Bobby Sheehan, The Celebrity Cafe
6. "There's the sadness of Bob's passing, but also the happiness of this rebirth.” —Ben Wilson, Mix Online 2002
7. "For a year it was strange to hear the music. One, to see them without Bobby, and two, to be the one playing - it was weird." —Tad Kinchla, Aspen Times 2005